Audio Nirvana

[Dauntless]

First of all apologies if this is in the wrong place because if anyone picks it up it's a DIY project. This US company piqued my interest because they are offering full range drivers with good sensitivity that are suitable for low power amps including valve amps.
http://www.commonsenseaudio.com/nirvana.html
There is a shortage of good speakers available for low power amps and Audio Nirvana are offering full range drive units and a range of cabinet designs at what looks like to me reasonable prices. I did a little digging and it seems someone took a completed pair to the Wam and they seem to go down well. I wondered if anyone on AOS knows anything about this company and their products. The company itself has some quite ambitious claims about product performance. Take a look guys!

[Ammonite Audio]

By all accounts they are very good indeed, potentially offering genuinely full range resproduction without honks, squawks etc, while delivering the phase and time purity characteristic of full range drivers. My friends at VertexAQ are using one of the Alnico variants in their new speaker design, an early prototype of which was used at this year's Whittlebury show.

Interestingly, also at Whittlebury, Divine Audio were using some Omega full range speakers which sounded lovely - beautifully balanced and musically engaging. These are also from the States and are available as bare OEM drivers as well as built systems. See http://omegaloudspeakers.com/home.html

[struth]

Look decent drivers. Im into full range, but i like the vintage German ones ive got. Got 7 drvers all told and they sound superb. Good luck in the making of them, and consider 2 in series as it worked with me

[Yomanze]

It isn't often a manufacturer makes me think 'wow', but these speakers, price & innovation look fascinating, already thinking about a pair of the Alnico 8 inchers in a 'cube / standmount' style, or at least a dinky one in an old Roberts-style radio converted into a streamer / radio... :D

[danilo]

The proprietor at Common sense is a bit over the top in his claims,
however the 8" incher is by general consensus: Best of Breed of the A Nirvana drivers.
Their 15" Full ranger simply stretches credulity.
Fairly inexpensive 'here' so not a big risk factor involved in experimenting.
Dunno about the added costs due to the avaricious border/tax agents inna UK though.

[Reffc]

Strictly speaking, it is a little misleading on the marketing bumpf because they do need some sort of filter to manage the very clearly rising treble response. Few, if any, so called full range drives are accurate without some filtration, usually to break up notches in response due to resonant peaks or rising response (as in this case). Also worth bearing in mind, especially with the larger units that off-axis response will demonstrate significant narrowing of polar response, meaning not an especially smooth off axis performance due to beaming with frequency rise (notice how they haven't actually publicised off axis response, possibly for exactly that very reason). The larger drivers are simply too large to work properly or accurately as full range drive units. Not an issue if you sit in the sweet spot but the room response can sound a little bass to mid dominant with such designs especially when placed close to boundaries. There's a reason why loudspeaker design evolved to multi-driver solutions. It's because they do give the better overall response, but the effort needed and the expense are obviously greater.

[danilo]

Welll Opinions as to required filters erm.. vary.
Few, if any get saddled with such, although some users fixate on baffle step correction circuits. Pointlessly imo, but tastes differ.
Having had some listening with the 8" AN's, their sound is pretty damned good, surprisingly so.. No ifs Or buts about it.
They typically put a big Smile on listeners faces.
Yess they are flawed .. So ?
Not like Our ears aren't physiological messes :eyebrows:
These are affordable drivers that deliver well. Not insignificant attributes.

[Dauntless]

Welll Opinions as to required filters erm.. vary.
Few, if any get saddled with such, although some users fixate on baffle step correction circuits. Pointlessly imo, but tastes differ.
Having had some listening with the 8" AN's, their sound is pretty damned good, surprisingly so.. No ifs Or buts about it.
They typically put a big Smile on listeners faces.
Yess they are flawed .. So ?
Not like Our ears aren't physiological messes :eyebrows:
These are affordable drivers that deliver well. Not insignificant attributes.

Danilo Do you know which range you listened to? Was it the Super or the Classic. They also claim that the Alnico and the Neodymium are better performers than the Ferrite. Do you have a view on this?